Red Sox sign Brad Wilkerson???

[dickay]

The guys been horrific for at least three straight years. Why not sign Andruw Jones if you're looking for this. More upside IMO with Jones.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/wilkebr01.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/j/jonesan01.shtml

[HoustonGM]

I dunno about that. Wilkerson's been better over the last 2 years than Jones has...by far. Either way, it's a minor league deal I'm assuming, so no harm, no foul. It doesn't cost anything and it's not like they're going to give the guy a ton of playing time or anything.

[Alloutwar]

yep, minor league deal. Depth move. Maybe McAnulty wasn't the depth they wanted?

Actual links: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/0...x-sign-br.html

http://soxanddawgs.com/2009/02/03/re...rad-wilkerson/

[dickay]

I dunno about that. Wilkerson's been better over the last 2 years than Jones has...by far. Either way, it's a minor league deal I'm assuming, so no harm, no foul. It doesn't cost anything and it's not like they're going to give the guy a ton of playing time or anything.

i dunno...by fars a stretch. both have been horrific. i think jones could have been had for the same deal, thats all. I prefer Jones myself.

[HoustonGM]

i dunno...by fars a stretch. both have been horrific. i think jones could have been had for the same deal, thats all. I prefer Jones myself.

Wilkerson was good in 2007. Well, not good but slightly above replacement level. In 2008, he was about one win below replacement. Jones was better in 2007 because of defense and more playing time, and not as bad in 2008 purely because he didn't play enough. Jones had an 88 OPS+ in 2007, and a disturbing 34 in 2008. Wilkerson was at 104 and 70.

And I'm pretty sure Jones is seeking a major league deal.

Again, it's just a minor league deal for depth. I doubt Wilkerson even plays in the majors with Boston except in the case of injury.

[dickay]

are you really looking to debate which sh!t smells better? they both were bad...i just think Jones plays better defense and has more upside.

[HoustonGM]

are you really looking to debate which sh!t smells better? they both were bad...i just think Jones plays better defense and has more upside.

I'm not disputing that (although I do disagree, i think Jones is done, offensively and defensively). I'm just saying that:

a) This doesn't prevent them from signing Jones.
b) It's just a depth move that costs nothing.
c) You say "Why not sign Jones if you're looking for this?" Because Jones doesn't give minor league depth. He wants a major league deal.

[dickay]

I'm not disputing that (although I do disagree, i think Jones is done, offensively and defensively). I'm just saying that:

a) This doesn't prevent them from signing Jones.
b) It's just a depth move that costs nothing.
c) You say "Why not sign Jones if you're looking for this?" Because Jones doesn't give minor league depth. He wants a major league deal.

Sure it doesn't 'prevent' them from signing Jones, but there are only so many roster spots. With Rocco and now Brad, i doubt theres room for Jones. I think Jones is a depth move that will cost nothing, and maybe you're right, maybe he wants a major league deal. I dunno...hard to believe he thinks he'll get one. I guess if he waits long enough someone may bite.

[HoustonGM]

Sure it doesn't 'prevent' them from signing Jones, but there are only so many roster spots. With Rocco and now Brad, i doubt theres room for Jones. I think Jones is a depth move that will cost nothing, and maybe you're right, maybe he wants a major league deal. I dunno...hard to believe he thinks he'll get one. I guess if he waits long enough someone may bite.

Wilkerson signed a minor league contract. He doesn't take up a roster spot.

[dickay]

Wilkerson signed a minor league contract. He doesn't take up a roster spot.

lol...point is with rocco there is no room for Jones on the MLB club, and Jones does take up a roster spot on the minor league team of which he plays for. How many aging OF's do you think they can put down there?

[HoustonGM]

lol...point is with rocco there is no room for Jones on the MLB club, and Jones does take up a roster spot on the minor league team of which he plays for. How many aging OF's do you think they can put down there?

I'm not sure why you're so deadset on Andruw Jones. Kotsay and Baldelli are the backup outfielders in the bigs. Wilkerson is on a minor league deal, along with numerous other players, a good amount of whom will be weeded out in spring training, none of whom take up any space for the big league team. Andruw Jones isn't likely to settle for a deal that puts him into the minor leagues and doesn't guarantee him a spot on the 40-man roster. In fact, I'm prettty sure that signing Jones requires him to be placed on the 40 man because he's still under contract. Signing Wilkerson has no effect on any potential Jones signing, but I doubt the Red Sox go after Jones at all.

From January 23:

Boras said that eight teams have expressed interest in Jones, adding that he will not accept a minor league contract or a minimum-salaried MLB deal

[dickay]

man, you wish to argue everything;

I'm not sure why you're so deadset on Andruw Jones.

who said deadset? I merely said he's low risk / high reward and i believe more upside than Wilkerson.

Andruw Jones isn't likely to settle for a deal that puts him into the minor leagues and doesn't guarantee him a spot on the 40-man roster. In fact, I'm prettty sure that signing Jones requires him to be placed on the 40 man because he's still under contract.

A) I'm positive his agent would say that Jones won't accept a minor league deal, thanks for posting the quote.

B) Your quote however contradicts what you are 'pretty sure' of, that he MUST sign a deal that puts him on the 40-man.

Signing Wilkerson has no effect on any potential Jones signing, but I doubt the Red Sox go after Jones at all.

Yes it does. Common sense tells you theres only so many roster spots and only so many aging OFs they want to bring to spring training.

I've already said, maybe they explored Jones and he refused a minor league deal. Maybe they didn't want to wait any longer to see if they could get him. We don't know....I'm merely saying that I'd prefer Jones over Wilkerson and hope they explored it. That is all.

[RedsoxRockies]

If Wilkerson rebounds magically to his Montreal level, then this is good. Or even his 2007 level, he was not horrible. I don't think we need so many OFers, but we are not losing anything with Brad

[HoustonGM]

man, you wish to argue everything;

I just think you're blowing the Wilkerson signing out of proportion. It's really meaningless and all it does is provide depth.

B) Your quote however contradicts what you are 'pretty sure' of, that he MUST sign a deal that puts him on the 40-man.

No, not necessarily. And, besides, I'm "pretty sure", not "positive" on that.

Yes it does. Common sense tells you theres only so many roster spots and only so many aging OFs they want to bring to spring training.

Teams sign boatloads of minor league contracts over the offseason. A huge portion of them get cut during spring training. The Red Sox have signed Wilkerson, Paul McAnulty, and Chip Ambres this offseason. They have Jeff Bailey, Jon Van Every, and Chris Carter, as well, and likely will sign some more guys.

I've already said, maybe they explored Jones and he refused a minor league deal. Maybe they didn't want to wait any longer to see if they could get him. We don't know....I'm merely saying that I'd prefer Jones over Wilkerson and hope they explored it. That is all.

Fine. As I said, It just seems to me that you're overreacting to the "consequences" of signing a player to a minor league deal.

[dickay]

Fine. As I said, It just seems to me that you're overreacting to the "consequences" of signing a player to a minor league deal.

I think you overreacted to my reaction. Read my first post lol. its merely a question that could have easily been responded to with: "maybe jones won't sign a minor league deal"...which i've agreed with.

apparently your opinions are OK, while others are overreactions???